Pollster’s Legs Wobble After Fawning Donald Trump Focus Group

[Blue_Adept]

"My legs are shaking," the pollster Frank Luntz says of the results

This 29-person focus group, conducted by Luntz and observed by a group of national press reporters from behind a pane of one-way glass, had gathered to explain the phenomenon of Trump. Why is a billionaire real estate mogul, TV celebrity and oft-accused demagogue who has never held office leading the Republican field with some 22% support in the polls?

Luntz’s firm paid each of the participants $100 for the two-and-a-half hour session. (They wore tags with their first names that were mostly illegible to reporters behind the glass.) The group was not a representative sample of the Republican party, or early state voters, as all of them had been selected because they like (or love) Trump and live in Washington or its suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. But they offered a glimpse into the Trump mystique, a lucrative brand whose success has caught the national media, the Republican establishment and experienced pollsters like the veteran Luntz off guard.

"When did you first decide you liked Trump? he asked. And why are you mad as hell?"

Oh my.

There's a lot to glean here. What Luntz is learning will be applied to the Republican power structure and spread from there. This is a big pile of useful information about what the next year will be like regardless of who gets the nomination on the right.

[trumad]

1. Go Trump!

[corkhead]

2. the original photo that inspired this alteration came from this article. Made me lol

[Buns_of_Fire]

20. Sublimely creepy.

Hundreds of people getting simultaneous tingles up and down their legs as they offer up the traditional sacrificial baby.

[Rex]

3. The GOP is the biggest party of Fail ever to be seen by human eyes.

They can't even control their own shit! Dump has them scrambling to find a way to get rid of him and ASAP! And they can't! As they are ruled by failure, so goes their party.

[merrily]

4. In 2008, Chris Matthews had a tingle go up his leg re: Obama and now Frank Luntz's legs

are shaking re: Trump.

There's a lesson here, namely, political pundits need to build up their leg muscles.

Trump’s the first person that came out and voiced exactly what everybody’s been saying all along,” one man said.

No, that would have been Bernie Sanders.

Trump is scamming you, sir, telling you what the polls tell him you want to hear. You'll see through it soon.

[Blue_Adept]

7. Bernie's not saying it in the way that the Trump fan can understand though

And that's part of the process in trying to refine your message but also adapt it for others.

[merrily]

8. I disagree. Bernie is saying it how everyone can understand it.

I can't remember when I've heard a politician speak more clearly and plainly.

[Blue_Adept]

9. To you.

Again, TO YOU.

To these guys? He's not.

[merrily]

10. We disagree, but I do appreciate your concern.

[Rex]

17. Bernie Sanders speaks a little truth

and people lose their minds.

[merrily]

18. Hey, Rex. Haven't "seen" you in a while. Hope you're well.

[Rex]

21. Staying away from this place more.

Doing more in real life, this place is a pit that sucks the life out of ya...so taking a break somewhat.

[merrily]

22. Probably wise. I've been sticking fairly closely to the Sanders Group. Always nice to see you.nt

[Scuba]

5. They've created a monster called The Republican Base, and its out of control.

[Xipe Totec]

6. “We know his goal is to make America great again,” a woman said. “It’s on his hat.

[B Calm]

11. Republicans couldn't approve adding two feet of height to New Orleans levees, but

these Trump fans actually believe Donald will build a fence along the Mexican border. LOL

[Orsino]

12. Luntz is the sort of fake pollster who might actually be moved...

...by statements from a couple of dozen volunteers.

[Eleanors38]

13. "Regardless of who gets the nomination on the right." Uh, that's all there is.

[olddots]

14. wait till Tony Robbins is hired as campaign manager ..

[Octafish]

15. Anger, Fear's cousin.

Luntz, inbred moron.

[reformist2]

16. These focus groups are so creepy. It's so against the spirit of democracy.

[Sunlei]

19. still don't trust Trump to not quit at the last moment, like some republicans are known to do.

I'd like Donald Trump to make a public statement that he will not quit, like his new best-friend Palin the Half/Governor did. Also, that he would never leave his wife for any of the palin woman.